Foldable pole

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a foldable pole including: an upper tube having a handle mounted thereon, a lower tube having a head part mounted thereon, and one or more intermediate tubes disposed between the upper tube and the lower tube; an elastic string having one end portion fixed to the inner lower end of the lower tube or the inner upper end of the upper tube and the other end portion extended up to the inner intermediate portion of the lower tube or the upper tube; and a non-elastic string having one end portion connected to the other end portion of the elastic string and the other end portion extended fixedly up to the interior of the upper tube or the lower tube.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a foldable pole, and more particularly, to a foldable pole wherein a plurality of tubes are connected to each other by means of the combination of non-elastic and elastic strings, thereby making it convenient to be folded, preventing the fixing state from being loose, and wherein the connected strings are disposed inside the tubes, not being exposed to the outside, thereby providing an excellent outer appearance.

2. Background of the Related Art

Generally, poles such as hiking poles, sports game poles, patient's walking assistant poles, and the like are used as auxiliary means for supporting a user's body. Each pole is provided with a pole body and a handle connected to the end of the pole body. The pole body is generally formed by insertedly coupling a plurality of connection tubes in such a manner as to be foldable or extendable in the lengthwise direction.

In accordance with the connection types of the tubes, the pole is divided into a retractable pole and a foldable pole. The retractable pole is configured to have a plurality of tubes extendable and retractable in the lengthwise direction thereof, which is called a ‘telescoping pole’ or ‘antenna pole’, and contrarily, the foldable pole is configured wherein a plurality of tubes connected by means of a connection string is foldable after being separated from each other.

The foldable pole is folded by separating the tubes from each other, not by inserting the tubes into each other, so that when folded, it can be more reduced in length than the retractable pole.

Examples of conventional foldable poles are foldable poles made by connecting the tubes by means of a non-elastic string, connecting the tubes by means of an elastic string like a rubber string, and connecting the neighboring tubes by means of an insert.

The foldable pole, which is made by connecting the tubes by means of a non-elastic string, that is, a string having no elasticity, is shown in FIGS. 1 to 4.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the neighboring tubes 10 are separably fitted to each other, and a non-elastic string 30 is passed through the inside of the tubes 10 from the tube 10 having a head part 12 formed thereon to the tube 10 having a handle 20 mounted thereon. A locking member 40 is mounted on the handle 20. The non-elastic string 30 is passed through the locking member 40 of the handle 20 and has a loop 50 mounted on the end portion thereof.

At the state where the tubes 10 are separated and folded as shown in FIG. 1, if the non-elastic string 30 is pulled to fix the tubes 10 after the tubes 10 have been connected to each other, the tubes 10 become in an inseparable state, as shown in FIG. 2.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the non-elastic string 30 is tightly pulled by taking the loop 50, and then, as shown in FIG. 4, a tie 35 formed on the non-elastic string 30 is locked to a locking slot 45 of the locking member 40. Accordingly, the non-elastic string 30 is fixedly locked tightly, so that the tube 10 having the head part 12 formed thereon serves to pull the other tubes 10 in the direction of the handle 20, thereby preventing the tubes 10 from being escaped from each other.

Like this, the pole, which is fixed in the unfolded state by means of the non-elastic string 30, is generally configured to lock the tie 35 of the non-elastic string 30 to the locking member 40. As a result, the tie 35 may be easily unlocked from the locking member 40 while the pole is being in use, and the locking member 40 itself is also escaped from the handle 20.

Further, the non-elastic string 30 is pulled as long as possible so as to lock the tie 30 to the locking member 40. Thus, the portion of non-elastic string 30 remaining after the tie 30 is exposed to the outside, so that it is undesirably caught often by a user's hand or something and is entangled with a handle strap 25 (See FIGS. 1 to 3), thereby making it inconvenient to use and also providing a bad outer appearance.

Moreover, it is really hard for ole people to tightly pull the non-elastic string 30.

The foldable pole, which is made by the tubes by means of an elastic string like a rubber string, does not need a tie or a locking member, but since the elastic string is extended along the whole length of the pole, it is hard to provide a substantially large elastic force. Further, as time has passed, the elasticity of the elastic string is lowered, and only if the head part 12 is locked to an object, the connection portions between the tubes are easily separated from each other.

The foldable pole, which is made by connecting the neighboring tubes by means of an insert, is configured to forcedly fit the tubes to each other by means of interference fitting between each tube and insert or to allow the insert to be contacted into the tube by means of the elastic and frictional forces of an elastic body (for example, rubber) formed on the insert. During the repeated use, however, the tube and the insert become loose and easily separated from each other.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a foldable pole which is capable of requiring no separate operation for pulling a connection string, thereby making it convenient to use, preventing the fixing state between neighboring tubes from being loose, and which is capable of allowing connection strings to be disposed inside the tubes, not being exposed to the outside, thereby providing an excellent outer appearance.

To accomplish the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a foldable pole including: a plurality of tubes separably fitted to each other in the axial direction thereof, the plurality of tubes having an upper tube having a handle mounted thereon, a lower tube having a head part mounted thereon, and one or more intermediate tubes disposed between the upper tube and the lower tube in such a manner as to be connected separably to each other in the axial direction thereof; an elastic string having one end portion fixed to the inner lower end of the lower tube or the inner upper end of the upper tube and the other end portion extended up to the inner intermediate portion of the lower tube or the upper tube into which the elastic string is mounted; and a non-elastic string having one end portion connected to the other end portion of the elastic string and the other end portion extended fixedly up to the interior of the upper tube or the lower tube from the one or more intermediate tubes sequentially.

To accomplish the above object, according to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a foldable pole including: a plurality of tubes separably fitted to each other in the axial direction thereof, the plurality of tubes having an upper tube having a handle mounted thereon, a lower tube having a head part mounted thereon, and one or more intermediate tubes disposed between the upper tube and the lower tube in such a manner as to be connected separably to each other in the axial direction thereof; an elastic string having one end portion fixed to the inner lower end of the lower tube and the other end portion extended up to the inner intermediate portion of the lower tube; and a non-elastic string having one end portion connected to the elastic string disposed inside the lower tube and the other end portion extended fixedly up to the interior of the upper tube from the one or more intermediate tubes sequentially.

According to the present invention, desirably, any one or more connection portions between the one or more intermediate tubes, between one of the intermediate tubes and the upper tube, and between one of the intermediate tubes and the lower tube are formed by disposing a button around the outer periphery of the tube having a relatively small diameter, so that when the tube having the small diameter is pulled toward the tube having a relatively large diameter, the button is locked to the end periphery of the tube having the large diameter, and when the button is pressed, the tube having the small diameter is pushed into the tube having the large diameter.

According to the present invention, desirably, any one or more connection portions between the one or more intermediate tubes, between one of the intermediate tubes and the upper tube, and between one of the intermediate tubes and the lower tube are formed by insertedly fixing an insert to one side tube and separably fitting the other side tube to the insert.

To accomplish the above object, according to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a foldable pole including: an upper tube having a handle mounted thereon; a first intermediate tube connected separably to the upper tube in the axial direction thereof; a second intermediate tube connected separably to the first intermediate tube in the axial direction thereof; a lower tube connected separably to the second intermediate tube in the axial direction thereof and having a head part mounted thereon; a fastening member disposed on the inner periphery of the lower end portion of the lower tube; an elastic string having one end portion connected to the fastening member of the lower tube and the other end portion extended up to the inner intermediate portion of the lower tube; a non-elastic string having one end portion connected to the elastic string inside the lower tube and the other end portion extended up to the upper tube from the second intermediate tube and the first intermediate tube sequentially; and a fixing member disposed inside the upper tube to fix the end portion of the non-elastic string thereto.

According to the present invention, desirably, any one or more connection portions between the upper tube and the first intermediate tube, between the first intermediate tube and the second intermediate tube, and between the second intermediate tube and the lower tube are formed by disposing a button around the outer periphery of the tube having a small diameter, so that when the tube having the small diameter is pulled toward the tube having a large diameter, the button is locked to the end periphery of the tube having the large diameter, and when the button is pressed, the tube having the small diameter is pushed into the tube having the large diameter.

According to the present invention, desirably, any one or more connection portions between the upper tube and the first intermediate tube, between the first intermediate tube and the second intermediate tube, and between the second intermediate tube and the lower tube are formed by insertedly fixing an insert to one side tube, so that the other side tube is separably fitted to the insert.

According to the present invention, desirably, the first intermediate tube is slidably inserted into the upper tube, and a button is disposed on the outer periphery of the first intermediate tube, so that when the first intermediate tube is pulled, the button is locked to the end peripheral surface of the upper tube, and if the button is pressed, the first intermediate tube is pushed into the upper tube; the connection portion between the first intermediate tube and the second intermediate tube is formed by insertedly fixing an insert to one side tube and separably fitting the other side tube to the insert; and the connection portion between the second intermediate tube and the lower tube is formed by insertedly fixing an insert to one side tube and separably fitting the other side tube to the insert.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exemplary view showing a conventional foldable pole being in a folded state;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary view showing the conventional foldable pole being in an extended state;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary view showing a state of pulling a non-elastic string in the conventional foldable pole;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary view showing a state of fixedly locking the non-elastic string in the conventional foldable pole;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a foldable pole according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the extended state of the foldable pole according to the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a procedure of folding the foldable pole according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Hereinafter, an explanation on a foldable pole according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be in detail given with reference to the attached drawings.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a configuration of a foldable pole according to the present invention. Hereinafter, a portion of a pole in which a handle is mounted is designated as an upper portion, and a portion of a pole in which a head part is mounted is as a lower portion.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a foldable pole according to the present invention includes an upper tube 110 having a handle 100 mounted thereon, a lower tube 140 having a head part 142 mounted thereon, and one or more intermediate tubes 120 and 130 disposed between the upper tube 110 and the lower tube 140 in such a manner as to be connected separably in the axial direction thereof.

So as to connect the tubes, further, an elastic string 300 has one end portion fixed to the inner lower end of the lower tube 140 and the other end portion extended up to the inner intermediate portion of the lower tube 140. The lower tube 140 further has a separate fastening member 310 disposed therein so as to fix one end portion of the elastic string 300 thereto.

A non-elastic string 200 has one end portion connected to the other end portion of the elastic string 300 and the other end portion extended fixedly up to the interior of the upper tube 110 from the intermediate tubes 120 and 130 sequentially.

The upper tube 110 further has a separate fixing member 210 disposed therein so as to fix the end portion of the non-elastic string 200 thereto.

While this embodiment is described wherein the fastening member 310 and the elastic string 300 are disposed in the lower tube 140, and the fixing member 210 and the non-elastic string 200 are fixed to the upper tube 110, it does not matter. For example, the fastening member 310 and the elastic string 300 may be disposed in the upper tube 110, and the fixing member 210 and the non-elastic string 200 may be fixed to the lower tube 140.

The elastic string 300 has such a length that it does not exceed the interior of the lower tube 140 even when the pole is folded (that is, when the elastic string 300 is extended to a maximum degree). If the elastic string 300 is too long, there is a possibility where the conventional problems occurring when the tubes are connected by only the elastic string appear again, and further, when the tubes are folded, the elastic string 300 makes the friction with the edge of the tube and is easily damaged or worn out.

Like this, according to the present invention, the elastic string 300 and the non-elastic string 200 are combined to each other to connect the tubes, so that their advantages can be sufficiently utilized, and on the other hand, the elastic string 300 is not exposed to the outside of the lower tube 140 when the pole is folded, thereby increasing the elasticity of the elastic string 300 and also enhancing the durability thereof.

Like this, according to the present invention, a portion of the non-elastic string 200 is connected to the elastic string 300, and thus, when the pole is extended, the non-elastic string 200 is automatically pulled by the elastic string 300, so that there are no needs for the exposure of both of the non-elastic string 200 and the elastic string 300 to the outside, for separate pulling of both of them, and for the mounting of a locking member or a tie for pulling and fixing the string.

Furthermore, the elastic string 300 has a restricted length, which greatly reduces the expansion and contraction thereof, thereby preventing the tube from being escaped from the fixed state while in use.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the elastic string 300 means an expandable string like a rubber string or a spring, and the non-elastic string 200 means a non-expandable string or a string rarely having expansion like a fiber or leather string or rope.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, additionally, the one or more intermediate tubes 120 and 130 have two tubes, that is, the first intermediate tube 120 and the second intermediate tube 130, but the number of intermediate tubes is not limited herein.

The connection portions between the first and second intermediate tubes 120 and 130, between the first intermediate tube 120 and the upper tube 110, and between the second intermediate tube 130 and the lower tube 140 are formed by arbitrarily selecting and combining the support through a button 124 and the coupling through an insert 220 or 230.

As shown in the drawings, the present invention provides a desirable connection method for greatly obtaining the advantages obtained by the combination of the elastic string 300 and the non-elastic string 200. That is, the upper tube 110 and the first intermediate tube 120 are connected to each other by means of sliding coupling and the support through the button 124. In more detail, the first intermediate tube 120 is pushed in a telescopic manner into the upper tube 110, so that when the pole is kept (folded) in a given place, there is no need to separate and fold the first intermediate tube 120, thereby making it convenient to use and further maintaining the whole length of the pole shortly. Additionally, the connection portions between the first intermediate tube 120 and the second intermediate tube 130 and between the second intermediate tube 130 and the lower tube 140 are formed by means of the separation/coupling of shafts and holes through the inserts 220 and 230, so that even if the head part 142 is caught by an object when the pole is used (unfolded), the tubes are not easily separated from each other.

In more detail, the first intermediate tube 120 is slidably inserted into the upper tube 110. Further, the button 124 is mounted on the outer periphery of the first intermediate tube 120. So as to use the pole, thus, if the first intermediate tube 120 is pulled by means of the non-elastic string 300 and the elastic string 200, the button 124 is fixedly locked to the end periphery of the upper tube 110, and so as to keep the pole in a given place, next, if the button 124 is pressed, the first intermediate tube 120 is pushed into the upper tube 110. Further, the upper tube 110 and the first intermediate tube 120 have movement prevention sleeves 112 and 122 mounted on the end peripheries facing each other.

The connection portion between the first intermediate tube 120 and the second intermediate tube 130 is formed by insertedly fixing the insert 220 to any one tube (that is, the first intermediate tube 120 in the drawings) thereof, and by separably fitting the other side tube (that is, the second intermediate tube 130 in the drawings) to the insert 220. The insert 220 has a connection tube 222 attached partially to the tube by means of press fit, shrink fit or bonding. The connection tube 222 has a plastic or rubber plug 224 inserted into the end periphery thereof in such a manner as to be stably contacted with the inner periphery of the second intermediate tube 130. The plug 224 has a through-hole 226 formed to pass the non-elastic string 200 therethrough.

In the same manner as in the above, the connection portion between the second intermediate tube 130 and the lower tube 140 has the insert 230 and the components thereof such as a connection tube 232, a plug 234, and a through-hole 236.

On the other hand, the upper tube 110 and the handle 100 can be extendable and retractable in a sliding manner. This is conducted by means of the coupling of the resilient sleeve 112 of the upper tube 110 to the handle 100. Like this, the upper tube 110 is pushed into the handle 100, so that even though the handle 100, the upper tube 110 and the first intermediate tube 120 are folded in the telescopic manner, not being separated from each other, the pole can be maintained to a minimum length when folded, that is, the four-staged tube can be folded to a three-staged tube.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a procedure of folding the foldable pole according to the present invention.

In FIG. 7, a process ‘a’ is a state wherein the pole is used, that is, when it is unfolded. When the pole is unfolded, all of the upper tube 110, the first intermediate tube 120, the second intermediate tube 130 and the lower tube 140 are extended.

So as to keep the pole in a given place after the completion of the use, a process ‘b’ is first conducted wherein the upper tube 110 is pushed into the handle 100, and a process ‘c’ is then conducted wherein the first intermediate tube 120 is pushed into the upper tube 110. After that, a process ‘d’ is conducted wherein the second intermediate tube 130 and the lower tube 140 are separated from each other, and a process ‘e’ is conducted wherein the pole is completely folded.

As set forth in the foregoing, the foldable pole according to the present invention has the configuration wherein the elastic string and the non-elastic string are combined to each other to connect the tubes, so that their advantages can be sufficiently utilized, and on the other hand, the elastic string is not exposed to the outside of the lower tube when the pole is folded, thereby increasing the elasticity of the elastic string and also enhancing the durability thereof.

Additionally, when the pole is extended, the non-elastic string is automatically pulled by the elastic string, so that there are no needs for the exposure of both of the non-elastic string and the elastic string to the outside, for separate pulling of both of them, and for the mounting of a locking member or a tie for pulling and fixing the string.

Furthermore, the elastic string has a restricted length, which greatly reduces the expansion and contraction thereof, thereby preventing the tubes from being escaped from the fixed state while in use.

While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular illustrative embodiments, it is not to be restricted by the embodiments but only by the appended claims. It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art can change or modify the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A foldable pole comprising: a plurality of tubes separably fitted to each other in the axial direction thereof, the plurality of tubes having an upper tube having a handle mounted thereon, a lower tube having a head part mounted thereon, and one or more intermediate tubes disposed between the upper tube and the lower tube in such a manner as to be connected separably to each other in the axial direction thereof; an elastic string having one end portion fixed to the inner lower end of the lower tube or the inner upper end of the upper tube and the other end portion extended up to the inner intermediate portion of the lower tube or the upper tube into which the elastic string is mounted; and a non-elastic string having one end portion connected to the other end portion of the elastic string and the other end portion extended fixedly up to the interior of the upper tube or the lower tube from the one or more intermediate tubes sequentially.
 2. The foldable pole according to claim 1, wherein any one or more connection portions between the one or more intermediate tubes, between one of the intermediate tubes and the upper tube, and between one of the intermediate tubes and the lower tube are formed by disposing a button around the outer periphery of the tube having a relatively small diameter, so that when the tube having the small diameter is pulled toward the tube having a relatively large diameter, the button is locked to the end periphery of the tube having the large diameter, and when the button is pressed, the tube having the small diameter is pushed into the tube having the large diameter.
 3. The foldable pole according to claim 1, wherein any one or more connection portions between the one or more intermediate tubes, between one of the intermediate tubes and the upper tube, and between one of the intermediate tubes and the lower tube are formed by insertedly fixing an insert to one side tube and separably fitting the other side tube to the insert.
 4. A foldable pole comprising: a plurality of tubes separably fitted to each other in the axial direction thereof, the plurality of tubes having an upper tube having a handle mounted thereon, a lower tube having a head part mounted thereon, and one or more intermediate tubes disposed between the upper tube and the lower tube in such a manner as to be connected separably to each other in the axial direction thereof; an elastic string having one end portion fixed to the inner lower end of the lower tube and the other end portion extended up to the inner intermediate portion of the lower tube; and a non-elastic string having one end portion connected to the elastic string disposed inside the lower tube and the other end portion extended fixedly up to the interior of the upper tube from the one or more intermediate tubes sequentially.
 5. The foldable pole according to claim 4, wherein any one or more connection portions between the one or more intermediate tubes, between one of the intermediate tubes and the upper tube, and between one of the intermediate tubes and the lower tube are formed by disposing a button around the outer periphery of the tube having a relatively small diameter, so that when the tube having the small diameter is pulled toward the tube having a relatively large diameter, the button is locked to the end periphery of the tube having the large diameter, and when the button is pressed, the tube having the small diameter is pushed into the tube having the large diameter.
 6. The foldable pole according to claim 4, wherein any one or more connection portions between the one or more intermediate tubes, between one of the intermediate tubes and the upper tube, and between one of the intermediate tubes and the lower tube are formed by insertedly fixing an insert to one side tube and separably fitting the other side tube to the insert.
 7. A foldable pole comprising: an upper tube having a handle mounted thereon; a first intermediate tube connected separably to the upper tube in the axial direction thereof; a second intermediate tube connected separably to the first intermediate tube in the axial direction thereof; a lower tube connected separably to the second intermediate tube in the axial direction thereof and having a head part mounted thereon; a fastening member disposed on the inner periphery of the lower end portion of the lower tube; an elastic string having one end portion connected to the fastening member of the lower tube and the other end portion extended up to the inner intermediate portion of the lower tube; a non-elastic string having one end portion connected to the elastic string inside the lower tube and the other end portion extended up to the upper tube from the second intermediate tube and the first intermediate tube sequentially; and a fixing member disposed inside the upper tube to fix the end portion of the non-elastic string thereto.
 8. The foldable pole according to claim 7, wherein any one or more connection portions between the upper tube and the first intermediate tube, between the first intermediate tube and the second intermediate tube, and between the second intermediate tube and the lower tube are formed by disposing a button around the outer periphery of the tube having a relatively small diameter, so that when the tube having the small diameter is pulled toward the tube having a relatively large diameter, the button is locked to the end periphery of the tube having the large diameter, and when the button is pressed, the tube having the small diameter is pushed into the tube having the large diameter.
 9. The foldable pole according to claim 7, wherein any one or more connection portions between the upper tube and the first intermediate tube, between the first intermediate tube and the second intermediate tube, and between the second intermediate tube and the lower tube are formed by insertedly fixing an insert to one side tube and separably fitting the other side tube to the insert.
 10. The foldable pole according to claim 7, wherein the first intermediate tube is slidably inserted into the upper tube, and a button is disposed on the outer periphery of the first intermediate tube, so that when the first intermediate tube is pulled, the button is locked to the end peripheral surface of the upper tube, and if the button is pressed, the first intermediate tube is pushed into the upper tube; wherein the connection portion between the first intermediate tube and the second intermediate tube is formed by insertedly fixing an insert to one side tube and separably fitting the other side tube to the insert; and the connection portion between the second intermediate tube and the lower tube is formed by insertedly fixing an insert to one side tube and separably fitting the other side tube to the insert. 